While millions of bargain enthusiasts use the online auctioneer to find rare collectibles and recycled goods, children as young as 13 have found that they are able to sidestep the law by finding alcohol vendors who do not ask for proof of age on purchase.

While eBay claims it does not allow the sale of alcohol on its site, limited edition bottles of vodka and whiskey among other tipples, are permitted and these bottles, though rare and sometimes expensive, are often sealed and full.

Illegal? Teenagers are looking to sites like eBay to order alcohol online from vendors who don't ask for ID

In a report by ABC's 20/20 team, 13-year-old Xander showed reporters just how easy it was to buy alcohol this way.

Though one vendor refused to sell him his product if Xander didn't send a copy of his ID, he was able to complete his transaction with two other sellers.

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With money given to him by the producers of 20/20, Xander explained: 'All I had to do was type in vodka on the search bar, click one button and it can send it to my house.'

Within five weeks, ABC reported, the five bottles of vodka had arrived on Xander's doorstep.

Sold! A MailOnline reporter was able to place an order for a limited edition bottle of Absolut 'Rio' without providing a copy of her ID

A MailOnline reporter buying a bottle of sealed, unopened limited edition Absolut 'Rio' had no problem getting to the payment page after hitting the 'Buy it Now' option.

But eBay told MailOnline: 'Sellers are required to take all appropriate steps to ensure that the buyer is of lawful age. We prohibit the general sale of alcohol and we have zero tolerance for anyone who violates our policies.

'When violations occur, we take appropriate action as we have done in this case.'

According to the company, they have action against the vendors who sold the alcohol to Xander.

Rare: eBay maintains it does not permit the sale of alcohol and yet collector's bottles are available on the site and often sealed full

The small print: The Michter 10 Year's conditions state vaguely that a buyer's bid is considered a certification that he or she is of age to purchase alcohol

However, on reading the terms of sale on some vendors pages, it seems evident that some vendors simply claim to follow guidelines without perhaps actually doing so.

During a search for whiskey, a MailOnline reporter found a collectible bottle of Michter's 10 Year bourbon for $110 whose vendors stated simply that 'By bidding on this item you are certifying that you are 21 years of age or older,' thus handing the responsibility to the buyer.

Rebecca Williams, a research associate at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was part of a team that released a report in May showing how underage study participants successfully placed orders online 45 times from sites including eBay.

Exclusive: eBay claims that the value is placed on the limited edition container and not on the contents

Finer print: An eBay vendor includes the company policy on its Absolut 'Mexico' that the contents are not intended for consumption

Though the website states that value is placed only on the container and not the contents and that the contents are not intended for consumption, many like Ms Williams would argue that this has little relevance if a seller chooses to sell to a minor.

'With just a few clicks on their computer or smartphone, kids can order alcohol delivered to their home,' she told ABC. 'We were amazed at how easy it was for minors to buy alcohol online.'

In its statement, eBay went on to say: 'We continue to strengthen our policy enforcement efforts to ensure a trusted marketplace for our customers.'